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India’s car market leader Suzuki Maruti Chairman visits AMW

Friday, 25 October 2013 02:47 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Associated Motor-ways Ltd. (AMW), the sole agent of Suzuki Maruti cars in Sri Lanka yesterday welcomed Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. Chairman R.C. Bhargava. Bhargava, an illustrious corporate personality in India joined Maruti Udyog Ltd. as Director Marketing soon after the company’s incorporation in 1981. He was appointed as the Managing Director/CEO in 1985 and became the Chairman and Managing Director in 1990.  He was re-instated to the Board in 2003 after Suzuki acquired control of the company and became a listed company. Bhargava was appointed as the Chairman of the company in 2007, a position he continues to hold to date. Bhargava is on the Board of Directors of a number of leading companies in India including Grasim Industries, UltraTech Cement Company, Polaris Software Lab Ltd., Infrast-ructure and Financial Services Ltd., Dabur Indu-stries Ltd., Idea Cellular Ltd., Thomson Press Ltd., Kokoyu Camlin Ltd. and Taj Asia Ltd., and is on the India Advisory Boards of BAE Systems Ltd., Rio Tinto (India), Huawei India Ltd. and Hitachi India Ltd. Bhargava has recently written a book titled ‘The Maruti Story’. He has also authored a book in Japanese on Suzuki’s strategy in India. In November 2011, the Emperor of Japan conferred on Bhargava, the Order of the Rising Sun Gold and Silver Star. He has also been presented with the Lifetime Award for Management by the Economic Times and the All India Management Association. Associated Motorways Ltd., Sri Lanka’s pioneering and leading automotive company secured the ‘Agency on Record’ title for Suzuki Maruti in 1992. Since then, Suzuki Maruti has rapidly become a well-established brand in the local motorcar industry. By 2003, it was the market leader in its class, with more than 60,000 vehicles in the market.  Enjoying an over two-decade-long partnership, Suzuki Maruti and Associated Motorways offer 15 brands and over 40 variants ranging from the people’s car, the Suzuki Maruti 800, to the latest Life Utility Vehicle, Ertiga. Other models in its portfolio include the Alto, Alto K10, Estilo, WagonR, Omni, A-star, Ritz, Swift, Swift DZire, SX4, Sx4 Hatch/Sedan and the Grand Vitara, keeping true to the AMW brand mission of providing a car for every individual, family, need, budget and way of life. The brand’s rapid growth in the market is primarily driven by Associated Motorways’ island-wide branch network and strong after-sales network with 36 dealer points. Further, the availability and affordability of genuine spare parts, unmatched resale value in the market, proven reliability and efficiency in its class, availability of accessories for modifications and technology has led to the brand’s success. Sri Lanka is currently the second largest market in terms of sales for Suzuki Maruti India. The company exports cars to over 125 countries, among them are highly competitive and mature European auto markets like the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and UK.

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